On Wednesday Lord Cushendun returned to the subject of the
Anglo-French compromise and admitted that it was evidently " distasteful " to some other countries. The word startled his audience, as it was for the moment inferred that the American Government had protested. Lord Cushendun, as he afterwards explained, had been speaking only of newspaper comment. No official comment had yet been received. We may add here that Sir Austen Chamberlain, in an interview at Bermuda, has acknowledged that misunder- standing might have been avoided if his illness had not prevented him from giving an ampler explanation of the compromise to the House of Commons. This acknowledg- ment meets much of our own past criticism. The Washington correspondent of the Times says, however, that Mr. Coolidge has his " back up." This shows how far misunderstanding can flow from unconsidered causes. In spite of all the misadventures and clumsinesses of presentation the British policy is sincerely intended. It is deplorable that the President should seriously think that Great Britain wants to enter into a contest of wits with America.
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